Power sprinkler



June 21, 1949. A. F. sTETsON POWER SPRINKLER s stints-sheet 1 Filed March 2 2, 19.46

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AA, `F. s'rETsoN POWER SPRINKLER June 21, 1949.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed llarGh 22, 1946 A. F. STETSQN POWER SPRINKLER June 21, 1949.

vFiled karen 22, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 A A.. LA f//l//l/I/l/l//IIIIIIIIIl/Jn June 21, 1949. A, F, STETSON .2,474,071

PUWER SPRINKLER.

rma umh 2z, 194e' 5 sheets-sheet 4 June 21, 1949. A. F. srETsoN 2,474,071

POWER SPRINKLER Filed March 22, 194e 5 sheets-sheet 5 ff'gjl Patented June 21, 1.949

UNITED STATES PA-TENT "QFFICE POWER SPElN-KLER Allyn F. Stetson, Chicago, Application March 22, 1946, Serial N; .656,189

4 Claims.

This invention relates in general to sprinklers adapted for use in sprinkling lawns, and particularly to a motor driven or power sprinkler which has for its primary use sprinkling the grounds of large estates or golf courses.

lieretofore, in sprinklers of thi-s general character, it has been customary to use the power supplied by water under pressure as a means for moving or driving the entire apparatus. That water would be supplied to a rotating `nozzle which would be caused to rotate by the force Iof the water and which, in turn, would operate a driving means for the apparatus. One of the main objections to this type of sprinkler has been the ocasional lack of pressure in the source of water supply. If the .pressure were to be decreased for any reason, the sprinkler may stall or at least function in an unsatisfactory manner.

Furthermore, while the water pressure may be sufficient to permit water to be projected from the spray nozzle, it may not always be sufficient to move the entire apparatus over the ground, and in general such mode of operation is iincertain.

In view of the foregoing, it is therefore one lof the main objects vof my invention to provide a sprinkler which has a positive source of power, such as an engine or motor, to drive the .entire apparatus.

Another object is to provide a power sprinkler having positive mean-s of locomotion in combination with a device for automatically guiding the apparatus in a predetermined path.

A further object is to provide a sprinkler vhaving a positive source of power with a novel spray nozzle which is adapted to have a rotary reciprocating or oscillating movement actuated -loy ythe power supply means.

A still further object is to provide a power sprinkler having a positive source of vpower supply with means actuated by such power supply to deliver a fluid, such as water, under substantially constant pressure to the spray nozzle.

Still another object is to provide means .in a power sprinkler whereby the positive source `of power may be disconnected from the means driving the apparatus and yet permit the power supply to operate thefluid supply means aswell as the means for actuating the movement-ofthe nozzle Still another object .is to provide'I a sprinkler having a positive source of power supply'uand which will be so synchronized with `the spray means as `to deliver avconstant supply of water 2 over Aa -givenfarea in accordance with the speed ofwmovement of the machine.

A further object is lto provide a source of power supply ein a power sprinkler which Will drive the sprinkler, andwill also positively furnish water under pressure, and positivel-y actua-te the oscillating-nozzle.

Other objects and advantages vof the invention will become apparent'from a reading of the following des'criptionin conjunctionA with the kaccompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. lis a side elevational v-i'ew o-f my improved power sprinkler;

Fig. '2 is a lsomewhat enlarged fragmentary plane View `of the forward end `of the sprinkler;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation thereof without showing any of the'mechani'sm above the supporting platform;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation without showing any `of the mechanism above the supporting platform;

Fig.'5 is 1.a fragmentary under plan view of the rear vend of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along 'the' plane of line `li--i of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary Avertical section taken substantially .along the plane of `line 1-1 of Fig. 5;-

Fig; 8 is a side elevation of .the meansy Vfor -imparting'anoscillating movement to the spray means looking vat the opposite side' of the' machine from that shown iii Fig: 1;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of K'the apparatus' shown vin Fig; 8;

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the nozzle and its connect-ing parts looking in' the ,direction .ofthe arrows IU-IIJ in Fig. 8;

Fig.v 11 is Aa horizontal lview showing awportion of the apparatus in plan and` showing the upper transmission-gear box in section;

Fig. l2 is a plan` View of the' lower transmission gearbox, and

Fig'. 1.3 is :an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the steering mechanism at the lfront endof the machine.

In ,accordance 'with my invention I provide a carriage having ai supporting platformon which is mounted apositive meansy for Isupplying power suc-h asanengine; lalso' provide aspray .nozzle adapted to'h'ave'a rotary reciprocating movement atA the rear4 end' of the carriagewhich i's actuated by positive' means driven :by the motor. As' is customary in .devices .of character a exibl'e conduit, suchl as a hose, is connected at one end to a source of water supply, and at its other end to the carriage of the sprinkler. In my device, however, the ysprinkler end of the hose is connected directly to a pump which is also positively actuated by driving means from the motor to supply water under substantially constant pressure to the nozzle.

The sprinkler is adapted to be located initially at some considerable distance from the source of Water supply and a sufficient length of hose extends from the water supply to the sprinkler. At the forward end of the carriage I provide a steering device in the form of spaced rotatable discs, which may be adjustable, or a grooved wheel which is adapted to receive the hose betwen the sides thereof and to follow the hose as the carriage is driven forwardly. Any curves or turns in the hose will be followed by the guide wheel which in turn will steer the front wheels of the carriage in the desired direction.

I also provide drive means connected to the rear Iwheels for driving the apparatus by means of the motor. It may be desirable, however, on certain occasions, to move the entire machine by hand, either when the spray means is functioning, or when the entire machine is idle. For moving the apparatus by hand I provide a handle at the front end of the machine which is so connected to the guide wheel that when a pull is exerted thereon the guide wheel will be elevated from the ground'and will clear the hose. Furthermore, I provide a clutch means to disengage the driving means from the motor so that the entire carriage can be moved manually when the motor is running.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings the carriage is made up primarily of a supporting platform 2, front wheels 4 and rear wheels 6. As will be clearly seen in Figs. l and l the rear wheels 6 are located at each end of an axle 8 which in turn is suitably mounted near its ends in bearings I suspended from brackets l2 which are located beneath and secured to the under side of the platform 2.

For a description of the front end of the machine and the specific form of steering apparatus reference will now be made to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 where it will be seen that the front wheels 4 are rotatably mounted on stub shafts I4. One of these shafts is located at each side of the machine and each is connected to a vertical tubular mem-- ber or sleeve l5 pivotally mounted between the sides of a U-shaped bracket i8 by means of a pin or bolt extending through the sleeve it and the sides of the bracket I8. Each bracket is then secured to a supporting bracket 22 extending downwardly from the under side of the platform 2. l

A forwardly extending arm 24 is secured at its rear end to each of the sleeves |6 and at its forward end is pivotally mounted between the sides of a bracket 2S by means of a pivot pin 28.

Each bracket 2E normally extends inwardly at substantially right angles to the arm 24 and each has connected thereto a link 3l! extending inwardly. The inner end of each link is secured to a bracket 32 having spaced sides at its opposite end to receive the ends of a link 34. The main body of this link is indicated by the numeral 3S and may be clearly seen in Fig. 13. The rear end thereof is formed so as to be pivotally mounted between the horizontal sides of a vertical bracket 38 by means of a vertically extending pivot pin 4t2. A bracket 42 extending downwardly from the under side of the platform 2 at substantially the 4 center thereof supports the bracket 38 and the parts connected therewith. It will Ibe evident that the link 30 will be free to move in a horizontal plane and when thus moved will operate the links 30 to rotate the arms 24 and thus turn the wheels 4.

Again referring to Fig. 13, the lower side of the link 30 has a depending portion 44 adapted to ren ceive a horizontal pivot pin 45 on which is pivotally mounted a bracket 46. Between the sides of this bracket a guide wheel having sides 48 is rotatably mounted on an axis 50 which is supported in bearings 52. The flexible conduit or hose for carrying the water from the source of supply to the sprinkler unit is indicated at 5ft and lies within the sides 48 of the guide wheel. When the carriage is moving forwardly the guide wheel will follow the path of the hose and if the hose curves the guide wheel will be pivoted on the pivot pin and will move the links 30 longitudinally through the link 36. The position of the various parts when the apparatus is turning is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 where it will be seen that longitudinal movement of the links 30 will cause a rotary movement of the arms 24. The rear ends of these arms being secured to the vertical sleeves I0 will cause rotation thereof and a turning movement of the wheels 4 through the axles I4.

The upper side of the bracket 4E is provided with spaced apart supporting means 56 adapted to pivotally hold a handle member 58 which enables the carriage to be moved manually. The natural upward pull on the handle 58 will automatically elevate the guide wheel 48 above the hose 54 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 13.

The power supply means for driving the apparatus may be of any suitable character, and by way of illustration, I have shown a gasoline en- 40 gine 6o mounted on the platform 2 having the usual fuel tank 62 mounted adjacent thereto. In the form of the invention shown, the engine drives the horizontal shaft 54 having a clutch fit thereon, operated by means of the clutch lever arm 68, pivoted to a, bracket l0 and which operates the clutch through the sleeve l2. The clutch, however, may be automatic if desired, and will operate in 'the usual and well known manner.

A driven shaft 'i4 passes through the upper transmission gear box 16 and is driven by the engine through the clutch 66.

The shaft 74 also drives a shaft 'i8 through the flexible coupling 80, the shaft 'i8 being mounted in an elongated bearing 82 and adapted to drive a pump 84, all of which is mounted on a bracket 85 secured to the supporting platform 2.

Referring now to Fig. 11, which is a horizontal section through the upper transmission gear box 16, it will be seen that the shaft 14 is mounted in suitable bearings 86 and 88 and has a worm 90 thereon. The rotation of the shaft i4 and worm 90 operates the worm gear 92 which is mounted on a shaft 94 which has each end thereof located in bearings 96 and 98.

Fig. 12 shows a pinion |00 also mounted on the worm gear shaft 94. The lower transmission gear box |02 has a shaft |04 located therein to which is secured a gear |06 in mesh with the pinion |00. Also mounted on the shaft |04 is a bevel gear |08 in mesh with a second bevel gear 0 for purposes of driving the entire -apparatus and which will be explained more fully hereinafter The shaft |04 extends beyond one side of the flower transmission gear box |02 and has4 a pinion |12 Vattached thereto. Referring now particularly to Figs. 8, 9,10 and 11 itfwill benoted that a short stub shaft H6 is located in a bearing block H3 mounted on the supporting platform, the shaft ||6 at oney end thereof being provided with an eccentric |20. 'I'he pinion ||2 being in mesh with the gear |'|4,\also mounted on the shaft ||6, will drive the eccentric |28, which has pivotally secured at one side thereof, the elongated link |22. The other end of this link is pivotally secured between the arms of a bracket |24 mounted on the framework of a segmental gear |26 which, in turn, is suitably mounted for an oscillating movement lon a bracket |2-'secured to the upper -side of the pump 84.

A conduit |30 is connected to thepump 84 for conveying a uuid under pressure upwardly through the spray nozzle |32. As illustrated, the conduit |30 has a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, the horizontal portion terminating in the spray nozzle |32. The vertical portion thereof has mounted thereon a bevel gear |34, adapted to mesh with the segmental gear |26, so that an oscillating movement thereof will also impart an oscillating movement to the spray nozzle. It will therefore be evident that when the clutch 66 is engaged the engine `60 will drive the shaft 14 which, through the worm 90, worm gear 92, pinion |00, gear |06 and pinion H2, will rotate the gear ||4 and the eccentric |20, both .of which are mounted on the common stub shaft H6, and will vthus reciprocate' the link |22 to :oscillate the nozzle |32 through the medium of the segmental gear |26 and the bevel gear |34. The locking nut `|36 may be mounted adjacent the nozzle for regulating the elevation thereof.

It will be further evident that rotation of the shaft 14 will also drive the shaft 18 through the iiexible coupling 80 and actuate the pump 84 to thus furnish Water under pressure to the nozzle |32, which water has been supplied to the pump through the hose 54, the other end of which is connected in the usual way to a source of Water supply.

Returning now to the lower transmission gear box |02 as shown in Fig. 12, and referring also to Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7 the operation of the driving means for the entire carriage will now be explained. The bevel gear ||0 will be rotated through its connection with bevel gear |08, as explained above. The gear ||0 is suitably mounted in a bearing |38 and has a link |40 adapted to be rotated thereby through actuation of the universal point |42. A second universal joint |44 at the rear end of the link |40 forms a connection through a short shaft |46 to suitable gears within the differential gear box |48. The details of this differential need not be described in detail since it is of the usual construction and has gears therein driven by the shaft |46 to drive the rear axle 8. I provide, however, means for connecting, or disconnecting, the rear axle with respect to the main driving means. At one end of the axle 8 I provide a clutch member in the form of square tooth gears |50 and |52. One member |52 of the clutch may be so connected as to be normally driven by the differential and the other member |50 may be connected to the axle and the wheels so that when the clutch members are in mesh the Wheels will be driven, but when these members are disengaged, the one will rotate freely without having any moving action on the axle. These clutch members are normally maintained in engagement by means of a coiled spring |54 surrounding a portion of the axle and bearing at one end against a boss-lli( and at the other end against the zclutchf member |52. This clutch member is also provided'i-'Wlth a collar |58 having pins |60 at each side thereof adapted to be'received in recessed portions in the bifurcated end |62 of the clutchr lever' arm |64. This arm is pivoted at |66 to a bracket '|68 mounted on the under side of `the supporting platform. The arm also extends upwardly through the platform in an opening therein. which is yso designed as to be able to ihoidthe arm against pressure of the spring |54 whenthe .clutch members are disengaged.

By providing this sprinkler carriage withv such means for disengaging the driving means from the engine it will be possible to manuallymoye thecarriage, because the rear wheel will ythen-be freely rotatable. In certain instances it maybe desirable to move the carriage by handfwhile the .spray means is in operation. It isalwuys necessary, of course, to be able to locate-tbe ysprinkler by moving it byhand to the location Where it is desired that the sprinkling operation begin.

For example, on a large estate or ons.: golf course, several hundred yards of hosey mayzbe connected between the source of water supply and the place where the sprinkler beginsol'ts operation. By disengaging the clutch :means v|50 and 52 it will be a simple matterA to move the machine by hand over the ground.

It will thus be clear that the engine, by drimng the shaft 14, will also drive the carriage through the worm 90, worm gear 92, pinion |00, gear |46, bevel gears |08 a'nd 0 which, through the-1miversal joints |42 and |44, will rotate the shaft |46 to actuate the gears in the differential box and the rear axle 8.

I have therefore been able to provide a single source of power supply for not only driving the carriage, but also to deliver the fluid under substantially constant pressure to the spray nozzle and to oscillate said nozzle. It should be noted that all of these operations must be synchronized so that a desired amount of water can be distributed over a given area evenly as the machine moves forwardly. The apparatus as shown and described herein functions to synchronize the various operations in the necessary manner.

It will be evident that other specific means can be used for carrying out the various functions above described than those illustrated without in any Way departing from the spirit of the invention.

For example, it may be possible to use three wheels instead of four, as shown, with a single wheel in front, or the guide wheel itself could be used as a supporting wheel for the front end.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A power sprinkler comprising a carriage having wheels thereon, a transmission on said carriage including upper and lower gear boxes, an internal combustion engine on said carriage, a driving connection between said engine and transmission for driving said transmission, means connecting the gears in said lower gear box with the wheels for driving the carriage, a movable spray nozzle on said carriage, means connecting said nozzle with the gears in said upper gear box for actuating said nozzle, a pump on said carriage connected to a source of water supply, conduit means connecting said pump with said nozzle. means connecting said pump with having wheels thereon, a transmission on said carriage, an internal combustion engine on said carriage, a driving connection between said engine and transmission for driving said transmission, means connecting said transmission with the Wheels for driving the carriage, a movable spray nozzle on said carriage, means connecting said nozzle with said transmission for actuating the nozzle, a pump on said carriage connected t0 a source of water supply, conduit means connecting said pump with said nozzle, means connecting said pump with said transmission for driving the pump to supply water to said nozzle under pressure, clutch means for disengaging the driving connection between said engine and said transmission, and other clutch means for disengaging the connecting means between said transmission and said wheels.

3. A power sprinkler comprising a carriage having wheels thereon, a transmission on said carriage, an internal combustion engine on said carriage for driving said transmission, a spray nozzle on said carriage mounted for rotary reciprocation, means connecting said transmission with said nozzle for actuating the nozzle, a pump on said carriage, means for supplying water to said pump from a source of water supply, conduit means connecting said pump with said nozzle, means connecting' said transmission with said pump for supplying water to said nozzle under pressure, and means connecting said .transmission with said wheels for drivingthecarriage,

4. A power sprinkler comprising a carriage having wheels thereon, a transmission on said carriage, an internal combustion engine on said carriage, a driving connection between said engine and said transmission for driving said transmission, a spray nozzle on said carriage mounted for rotary reciprocation, means connecting said transmission with said nozzle for actuating the nozzle, a pump on said carriage, means for supplying water to said pump from a source of water supply, conduit means connecting said pump with said nozzle, means connecting said transmission with Said pump for supplying water to said nozzle under pressure, means connecting said transmission with the wheels for driving the carriage, clutch means for disengaging the driving connection between said engine and said transmission, and other clutch means for disengaging the connecting means between said transmission and said wheels.

ALLYN F. STETSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,068,796 Mathers July 29, 1913 1,726,986 Horten Sept. 3, 1929 1,759,988 Knapp' May 27, 1930 2,057,217 Soper Oct. 13, 1936 

